In the opening scene of Shakespeare's play, Julius Caesar, it begins with the common people celebrating the return of Caesar, who defeated Pompey. Marullus and Flavius oppose their festivities, and they attempt to shame the commoners by displaying how their attempts "To see the Great Pompey pass" (1.1.47) when he was ruler paralleled their desire to see Caesar. Their alliance and respect the supposedly held for Pompey dissipated very quickly for people who claimed to love him. The senators want to stop the commoners' support for Caesar because they are afraid he will "Soar above" (1.1.79) them and take away what power they possess. They want Caesar to remember that he is not the only one with influence. The play begins with the senators and commoners instead of Caesar to show how the people see him, not how he sees himself. The senators feel he is "Vulgar" (1.1.75), while the commoners are partying. Shakespeare foreshadows Caesars death by showing the senators hatred of him, he also makes the separation of social classes very clear, with both the way the Senators treat the peasants, as well as how the different classes see Caesar as either a saint or a demon.
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